Winter Has Come To Muskoka

THE WINTER HAS FINALLY COMETH -

MUSKOKA AS WALDEN

MY MOTHER MERLE, WOULD HAVE LOOKED OUT UPON SUCH A WINTER SCENE, AS THIS MORNING, AND SAY WITH THE SENSE OF EXCEPTION TO ALL ELSE MUDANE, "THIS IS A WINTER WONDERLAND." AND SHE WOULD MEAN IT, BUT BE UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE ICY CONDITIONS, ON THE WALKWAYS, WITH HER WONKY HIP. BUT SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO SHARE HER FEELINGS, ABOUT WHAT MADE WINTER IN MUSKOKA, BETTER THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH. I WOULD CONCUR WITH HER THIS MORNING. IT IS INDEED, A SPECTACULAR SCENE HERE ACROSS FROM THE SNOW-LADEN BOG.

IT IS A PERFECT DAY TO TOSS A COUPLE OF LOGS ON, AND NESTLE BY THE HEARTH……UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU FIND IT THE PERFECT OCCASION FOR SNOWSHOES, TO GET OUT INTO THE MIDST OF THIS PARTICULARLY ENTICING PANORAMA OF ENCHANTMENT. FOR ME IT IS A GOOD DAY TO SIT BY THIS WINDOW, AND WATCH THE WINDBLOWN SNOW SWIRL OVER BIRCH HOLLOW, AND FIND SOMETHING OR OTHER TO WRITE ABOUT. THIS WILL BE NO PROBLEM, AS THIS IS A SCENE THAT PERPETUATES THE KIND OF INSPIRATION WRITERS REQUIRE…….TO COMMAND THE FINGERS TO DO MORE THAN TWIDDLE. I SHALL HAVE TO EMPLOY THE SERVICES OF OUR LADS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, TO CLEAR THE DRIVEWAY LATER THIS MORNING, BUT AS THE SNOW IS LIGHT AND THE WIND HAS BLOWN MOST OF IT FREE FROM THE LANE, OVER THE PAST HOUR, I WILL GLADLY MAKE THEM THE HOT CHOCOLATE AS REPAYMENT.

JUST WHEN WE EXPECTED WINTER HAD BEEN RETIRED EARLY, THIS SEASONAL BLUSTER PREVAILED, COMMENCING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IT HAS BLOWN AGAINST THE HOUSE WITH GREAT VIOLENCE, OVER NIGHTS, AND THERE ARE DRIFTS SCULPTED AGAINST THE HOUSE NOW…..ONE BEAUTIFUL CREATION, NOW PRESSING UP AGAINST MY OFFICE WINDOW. IT IS A COMPELLING SCENE UNFOLDING, AS THE STILL VIGOROUS WIND KNOCKS THE SNOW CLUMPS OFF THE CLUSTER OF RASPBERRY CANES AND LILACS IN THE FRONT GARDEN; THE MAPLE BOUGHS HANG LOW WITH THE WEIGHT OF ICE AND SNOW. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANY WRITER COULD BE STALEMATED BY WHAT HAS DRESSED THE LOWLAND TODAY. EVEN THOUGH THERE ISN'T ANY DIRECT SUN, IT IS BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL.

THE HOT CUP OF TEA FEELS GOOD ON MY OLD ARTHRITIC HANDS, AND BOSKO HAS ONCE AGAIN HUMANELY COVERED MY CHILLED FEET WITH ITS BODY, AND THERE IS A CAT ON MY LAP, AND ANOTHER PURRING ON THE WINDOW-SILL. WITH THE CONTENTING INTERIOR DESIGN OF OLD BOOKS, OLD STUFF, AND OLD WARM PETS, THE SCENE BEYOND MY WINDOW PANE, IS JUST AS WARM TO THE HEART, AS THE CREATURE COMFORTS THUSLY PREVAILING UPON MY RESPITE. I SHALL WRITE TODAY……I SHALL ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY OF REPORTING ON WINTER AT LAST. I CHERISH THIS VANTAGE POINTS, AS I HAVE ALWAYS, FROM THE FIRST WINTER WE CAME TO RESIDE HERE, FULL OF ENTHUSIASM, DELIGHTED BY THE VIEW FROM HERE, ONTO THE SNOWY WOODLANDS, AND THE BASIN OF FROZEN CAT-TAILS AND BOG GRASSES.

I'M TOLD BY THE RESIDENT WEATHER-WATCHER, SUZANNE, THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE RAIN BY TUESDAY. AS THIS IS SUNDAY, I SHALL WRITE QUICKLY TO CAPTURE ALL THE WINTER THAT HAS BEEN BESTOWED UPON US…..FOR THESE SEVERAL, MEMORABLE DAYS IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.